photo bookshttp://www.maclife.com/taxonomy/term/13389/all
enOvernight Recap: Rdio Layoffs, Amazon Kindle Trials, Flickr Photo Bookshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/overnight_recap_rdio_layoffs_amazon_kindle_trials_flickr_photo_books
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/rdio_montage_620px.png" alt="Rdio" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>In case you didn't notice, Apple's Find My Friends app was updated Tuesday, effectively making the company's transition to iOS 7 styling complete — well, almost. A few of Cupertino's lesser-used apps, such as Keynote Remote, Logic Remote, iTunes Connect Mobile and iAd Gallery are still rocking iOS 6-style icons. Speaking of facelifts, we've got one from a venerable mapping app in today's recap, so let's dive and get started...</p><h3>Rdio Succumbs to Staff Layoffs, Ensuring "Scalable Business"</h3><p><a href="http://techcrunch.com/2013/11/19/rdio-lays-off-staff-to-improve-cost-structure-and-improve-business-for-the-long-term/" target="_blank">TechCrunch reported Tuesday</a> that everything isn't quite peaches and cream with the growing streaming-music market. Contender Rdio has confirmed layoffs at the company, which reportedly involve 35 people, including two engineers focused on mobile and web apps. “Rdio confirmed making across-the-board workforce reductions today to improve its cost structure and ensure a scalable business model for the long-term,” a spokesperson said. Despite the dark cloud, the company claims it's "thrilled with the traction we've seen so far," while pointing out that 90 percent of its subscribers are now on the $9.99-per-month Rdio Unlimited tier — suggesting that may not have been enough scratch to justify keeping those now without jobs around.</p><h3>Amazon Quietly Offering 30-Day Trials on Latest Kindles</h3><p><a href="http://www.theverge.com/2013/11/19/5122812/amazons-latest-push-for-kindle-fire-hdx-includes-30-day-free-trials" target="_blank">The Verge reported Tuesday</a> that select Amazon.com customers have started to receive invitations for a very tempting new offer to try out the e-tailer's latest Kindle devices, free of charge, for 30 days. The offer is reportedly valid on the Kindle Paperwhite as well as the new Kindle Fire HDX and Kindle Fire HDX 8.9, which are shipped to invitees without any up-front payment. The only catch? If you don't ship it back within 30 days, Amazon will go ahead and charge the credit card they have on file with you. Hey, Amazon! We haven't received our invite yet. Care to add us to the list?</p><h3>Flickr Expands Again, This Time Into Photo Books</h3><p><a href="http://yahoo.tumblr.com/post/67493364270/bring-your-photos-to-life-with-flickr-photo-books" target="_blank">Yahoo! announced Tuesday</a> that Flickr customers now have a new option for turning their 1TB worth of digital photos into something cool. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/create" target="_blank">Flickr Photo Books</a> is a web-based service that converts favorite photo sets into "beautifully finished" hardcover books, complete with "handpicked full-bleed layouts," "heavy stock photo Lustre paper and the image-based cover with matching dust jacket." Prices start at $34.94 for a 20-page, 8.5" x 11" book, which is more expensive than Apple up front, but extra pages are much cheaper at only 50 cents each. Flickr Photo Books are available in the U.S. only for now.</p><h3>AOL Gives MapQuest Much-Needed Mobile Facelift</h3><p>Undeterred by the iPhone's built-in Apple Maps, AOL Inc. continues to improve <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/app/id316126557" target="_blank">MapQuest</a>, with an all-new redesign for version 4.0 that nicely matches iOS 7. Maps are now sharper and more detailed, including traffic conditions while the user is en route, with custom bookmarks for home and work to easily get you to your destination from virtually anywhere. If that's not enough, MapQuest also includes road alerts and the option to mute voice-guided directions while listening to music or on a phone call. Although MapQuest is a free app, users will need to pony up $3.99 via in-app purchase if they want to make it an ad-free experience.</p><h3>Nokia Shareholders Give Thumbs Up to Microsoft Sale</h3><p><a href="http://allthingsd.com/20131119/nokia-shareholders-approve-microsoft-deal/" target="_blank">AllThingsD reported Tuesday</a> that Nokia shareholders have cleared the way for a sale of the company's devices and services divisions to Microsoft, despite a vocal minority who felt it would be in Finland's best interests to keep those treasured technologies within the country's borders. The meeting in Helsinki was largely symbolic, given that 99.7 percent of shareholders had already registered their approval in advance, which gives a green light for the $7.35 billion deal to proceed.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/overnight_recap_rdio_layoffs_amazon_kindle_trials_flickr_photo_books#commentsNewsAmazon.comAOLFlickriOS 7kindleMapQuestMicrosoftnokiaovernight recapphoto booksrdiostreaming musiciPadiPhoneiPodMacWed, 20 Nov 2013 13:37:16 +0000J.R. Bookwalter18663 at http://www.maclife.comShutterfly Debuts Photo Story for iPad, Offers 40% Off Books Until Aug. 21http://www.maclife.com/article/news/shutterfly_debuts_photo_story_ipad_offers_40_books_until_aug_21
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/shutterfly_photo_story_for_ipad_620px.png" alt="Shutterfly Photo Story for iPad" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>Online photo service Shutterfly has always been a great place to order prints or create photo gifts, but the company is gradually moving to mobile devices, including a new iPad app for creating photo books.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-book-ipad-app/?esch=1" target="_blank">Shutterfly announced the release of Photo Story for iPad</a>, a free companion app for its online photo service which allows customers to create books from virtually anywhere, whether you're online or offline.<br /><br />Unlike the company's traditional printed photo books, Photo Story for iPad adds a few unique features, including the ability to embed 30-second audio messages into each page, as well as share a free digital version of each book via Facebook or email.<br /><br />Images can be added from almost anywhere, including Facebook, Instagram, Photo Stream and of course, the Shutterfly service itself. The company <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/shutterfly-for-ipad/id396799352?mt=8" target="_blank">recently overhauled its core iPad app</a> to reach feature parity with the iPhone version, which allows uploading photos to the service as well as ordering prints or other photo gifts.<br /><br />For those who prefer to receive a printed photo book, prices start at only $19.99 plus shipping, and Shutterfly offers a full refund if you're not happy with the results. The company is celebrating the release with 40 percent off all photo books using the promo code BOOK40 -- but act quickly, that deal expires next Wednesday, August 21.<br /><br /><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/shutterfly-photo-story/id659614190?mt=8" target="_blank">Shutterfly Photo Story for iPad</a> requires an iPad 2 or higher or iPad mini with iOS 6 or later. One caveat: Projects created using Photo Story can only be edited with the app, while projects created on the desktop can only be edited from the same place.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/shutterfly_debuts_photo_story_ipad_offers_40_books_until_aug_21#commentsNewsDealsdigital booksdigital photosFacebookinstagramiPad Appsphoto booksPhoto Storyphoto streamShutterflyiPadThu, 15 Aug 2013 14:51:26 +0000J.R. Bookwalter17783 at http://www.maclife.comMosaic Creates Photo Books from iPhone App in 4 Dayshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/mosaic_creates_photo_books_iphone_app_4_days
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/mosaic_app_200px.png" alt="Mosaic" width="200" height="151" class="graphic-right" />Walking around with an iOS device full of your favorite memories is pretty awesome, but sometimes you want to actually get them onto paper in the classiest way you can -- and Mosaic is here to make that a snap.<br /><br /><a href="http://heymosaic.com" target="_blank">Interactive Memories, Inc. has introduced Mosaic</a>, a free iPhone app for creating a stunning photo book right in the palm of your hand, delivered to your door in only four days.<br /><br />"Mosaic is something entirely new," the company touts. "It's the photos you just took. It's an app that's fast and seamless. It's a first of its kind book delivered to your door. It's something you'll love."<br /><br />For only $20 plus tax and shipping, Mosaic makes it a breeze to turn 20 photos from your iOS device into a seven-inch square, hardbound photo book that "begs to be picked up and viewed."<br /><br />Each book includes 13 precisely machined windows to showcase your photos, with a durable linen cover. Photos are printed razor sharp on silky smooth paper engineered specifically for the Mosaic presses to ensure colors are vivid and blacks are "inky."<br /><br /><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mosaic-by-mixbook/id547986608?mt=8" target="_blank">The Mosaic app is free to download from the App Store</a>, and the books it creates are printed within 48 hours and on the way to you via UPS Second Day Air. While the app is also compatible with the iPad, it's not yet a universal build, so your best bet is creating one on an iPhone or iPod touch.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/mosaic_creates_photo_books_iphone_app_4_days#commentsNewsApp StoreBooksdigital photosfree appsMosaicPhoto appsphoto booksphoto sharing servicesphotographsiPhoneiPodFri, 02 Nov 2012 11:37:52 +0000J.R. Bookwalter15483 at http://www.maclife.com50 Years of James Bond Posters Now Available as Universal Apphttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/50_years_james_bond_posters_now_available_universal_app
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/james_bond_poster_app_200px.png" alt="James Bond: 50 Years of Movie Posters" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />"Bond. James Bond." It's hard to believe moviegoers have been hearing those words spoken for five decades now, and to celebrate, a new app containing all of the movie posters for the films has landed in the App Store.<br /><br />Publisher Dorling Kindersley has taken its recent hardcover photo book <em>James Bond: 50 Years of Movie Posters</em> and brought it into the palm of your hand, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/james-bond-50-years-movie/id554188790?mt=8" target="_blank">courtesy of a new universal app for iOS</a>.<br /><br />"Celebrate 50 years of James Bond films in fine style with this app, created in collaboration with EON Productions, producers of the James Bond movies," the product description reads. "Browse through a spectacular gallery of posters, from 1962's <em>Dr. No</em> to 2012's <em>Skyfall</em>. A collection of Bond images that captures, distils, and defines the lasting appeal of cinema’s most compelling superspy."<br /><br />The 364MB app sadly isn't an iBooks title, but rather a full-fledged universal app for the iPhone, iPod touch or iPad containing 105 posters with captions by Bond expert Alastair Dougall. But for true Bond fans, it will be a gem, considering the app includes rare, valuable, sought-after and unpublished posters from all over the world.<br /><br /><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/james-bond-50-years-movie/id554188790?mt=8" target="_blank">James Bond 50 Years of Movie Posters</a> is available now on the App Store for $4.99; the app is compatible with the iPhone 3GS, third-gen iPod touch or higher as well as any iPad and requires iOS 4.3 or higher.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/50_years_james_bond_posters_now_available_universal_app#commentsNews50 yearsApp StoreartworkDorling KindersleyGalleryJames Bondmoviesphoto bookspostersUniversal AppsiPadiPhoneiPodTue, 30 Oct 2012 12:59:48 +0000J.R. Bookwalter15451 at http://www.maclife.com